West Village resident and Community Board 2 member Alexander Meadows has announced his candidacy for the District 3 seat, saying he threw his hat in the ring to help support progressive causes.

Meadows, 36, said he believes his three-year tenure on CB2, campaign volunteer work and personal experience surviving child abuse would make him an empathetic representative of his neighbors.

"The legislative process and social safety net gave me great things," he said Thursday. "I want to build that for others in this district."

Meadows, a gay, first-generation Cuban-American who grew up in Miami, has lived in District 3 for seven years — first in Hell's Kitchen for two years and then in the Village for the past five. He works as an estate manager and personal assistant for a Manhattan family, and holds a bachelor's degree in sociology.

As The Villager first reported, Meadows said he would bring an interest in justice to city policies on transportation, education and urban planning issues.

"We're seeing a lot of development on the West Side and unions are getting shafted," Meadows said. "It reminds me of what it felt like to not get a chance."

Meadows said he's currently building support by making personal calls to unions and other groups that could endorse him. Campaign finance records show he has raised a little more than $21,000 so far.

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